Christian responses to materialistic secular values

• What is materialism?

  A world view that regards material possessions, wealth and personal comfort as more important than spiritual practice - materialism is a key feature of modern secular life
• materialistic values may be religious if…?

  wealth and possessions are thought to be given by God
• materialistic values are secular when…?

  wealth is not seen as a gift from God or any other religious power
• in the time of Jesus, wealth was regarded as a good thing why?

  it was seen as a sign of god’s favour/approval
• (New Testament responses)however, Jesus revered the usual expectations of this day, particularly around wealth and poverty, how?

  he argued that the poor were blessed with nothing because their situation was about to be reversed with the kingdom of god
• what is a quote from Jesus that reflects his views?

  ‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of god’
• what is another quote from jesus that reflects his views?

  ‘sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven‘
• Jesus does not condemn wealth in itself but argues…?

  it is extremely difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, and therefore that riches can be a distraction from the more important aspects of life
• someone who is rich is concerned to preserve and increase their wealth on earth rather than…?

  focusing on building up what Jesus calls ‘treasure in heaven’ - through virtuous behaviour and charitable attitudes
• what did Jesus say in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus?

  worldly possessions wilL have no value in the afterlife
• what does st Paul say?

  ’the love of money is the root of all evil’
• early in the 4th c what developed within Christianity?

  a monastic tradition, some men and women gave up their possessions and lived in communal solitary existence (giving yourself to faith)
• what was monasticism seen as?

  a superior spiritual state to that of the householder
• however, with the reformation…?

  living life in the secular world involved using and owning money and property and voluntary poverty no longer offered moral superiority so there was no spiritual advantage to monastic life
• however, in modern society, what do some believe?

  that Christianity should embrace materialistic secular values
• what is the prosperity gospel?

  a form of evangelical Christianity that views wealth, power and status as a reward from God for strong faith and good works
• what is a quote from Osteen that supports the prosperity gospel?

  ‘it’s God’s will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It’s god’s will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt’
• what does the prosperity gospel teach?

  that Christian beliefs and practices will be rewarded by God with material prosperity and physical well-being
• however, what do mainstream Christina denounce?

  prosperity theology, believing that yes wealth is a gift from God, but they feel an obligation to share the wealth they receive with others e.g. charity - ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble‘